RETIRED MEMBERS’ ANNUAL REPORT

The National Retired Members’ Committee Annual Report has now been published. Questions on the Annual Report must be submitted using the Online Conference System (OCS) by Wednesday 17 September 2014.

The report is a summary of the work of the National Retired Members’ Committee since last year’s Conference.

The Retired Members’ Standing Orders Committee agreed to adopt the procedures agreed for National Delegate Conference with regard to the submission of questions on the Annual Report. The Standing Orders Committee believes that this process enables Conference to deal with the Annual Report effectively and efficiently and leave more time for motions to be discussed.

Under this procedure questions on the Annual Report are now invited and will be responded to in advance of Conference. The only questions that may be put orally to the National Retired Members’ Committee at Conference will be supplementary to the questions submitted under this process. It would be preferred if any supplementary questions could be submitted by Wednesday 8 October so that any additional information requested can be sought prior to the start of Conference.

The timetable for submission of questions on the Annual Report is as follows:

Wednesday 17 September 2014Deadline for questions to be submitted through the Online Conference System (OCS).

Wednesday 24 September 2014Deadline for responses to be submitted onto the Online Conference System (OCS).

Wednesday 8 October 2014Preferred date for supplementary questions to be submitted through the Online Conference System (OCS).

Wednesday 15 October 2014Platform response to supplementary questions.

General information on accessing the Online Conference System (OCS) was distributed in the Retired Members’ Conference Bulletin, which is available on the UNISON website.

To submit a question on the annual report through the OCS, follow the instructions below

 Sign onto Online Conference System (OCS)

 Select National Retired Members’ Conference

 Select ‘Agenda’

 Select ‘Annual Report Questions’

 Select question type from drop down box

 Select ‘create a new question’

 Follow instructions which will give you a form to complete

 Complete form – remembering to fill in all mandatory fields

 You can copy and paste your question into the text box or type the text in

 If you want to do this in stages you can select the save choice and come back into OCS later to finish

 When you are happy with your question, select ‘Submit’

If you encounter any problems, please seek assistancefrom your regional OCS contact (details in the Conference Bulletin) or Colin Derrig on

REPORT OF NATIONAL RETIRED MEMBERS’ COMMITTEE INCLUDING ACTION ARISING FROM 2013 RETIRED MEMBERS’ CONFERENCE

MESSAGE FROM DAVID KIPPEST-

CHAIRPERSON, UNISON NATIONAL RETIRED MEMBERS’ COMMITTEE

Policy Priorities

Our top priorities for 2014/15 remain getting a state pension above the poverty line, the establishment of a National Care Service funded, like the NHS, free at the point of need, restoration of personal tax allowances for older people and retention of universal pensioner benefits. Improvement in internal communications is also an area in which the National committee wishes to see an improvement. Rule amendments carried by this year’s National Delegate Conference have strengthened the position of the National Retired Members Organisation, particularly at Branch level and the Code of Good Branch Practice and the Branch Retired Members Secretary’s Handbook should reflect these important changes.

State Pension

Last year I said that I thought the percentage of “losers” under the new proposals for a single-tier state pension would be about 67%. It turns out that this figure was understated with a staggering 8 in 10 people now likely to get a reduced pension from the flat rate £155 a week envisaged. The majority of these will be women and of course this does not include existing pensioners who will be left out of the new scheme.

Defence of Universal Benefits

Until the day comes that the state pension is set above the poverty line threshold for all pensioners the retention of universal pensioner benefits is of the utmost importance. Successive Governments of all political parties have recognised that these benefits are made as an alternative to paying a decent state pension. The benefits need to be universal to avoid yet more ignominious means testing and to ensure that those pensioners who need such benefits will receive them.

Communications

The National Committee is aware that communications for retired members need to be improved. Recently the national website has been updated more frequently than before and there are plans to introduce an electronic version of interactive. These measures will not be of use to those of our members who are without the capacity to view or download this information and who will still require hardcopies.

Care of Older People

The Care Bill currently being discussed at Parliament is not the answer to the many problems associated with the care of older people. What is needed is a radical rethink of how care is financed and how older people may be allowed to end their days in a secure and dignified manner. It is important that as much care as possible is given in a home environment and that both carers and those they care for are given fair treatment.

The Care Bill will not cover the cost of food etc. only the necessary medical care and unfortunately in practice this means that the ceiling cap will not apply to the great majority of older people needing care.

Pensioners Organisations

The National Pensioners Convention continues to struggle financially with insufficient income being received to cover the very basic costs of running the organisation.

TUC Pensioners Committee

The position with regard to this Committee has worsened somewhat as the TUC has now decreed that it will meet only twice instead of four times a year. The National Committee has registered opposition to this proposal and I have written to our General Secretary asking him to make representations on this decision.

National Delegate Conference

Although both motions from our Conference were not heard, the two amendments from the National Committee were debated and carried as part of a composite motion and a substantive motion. There were four amendments to rule affecting the National Retired Members Organisation that were carried and they concerned the rights and funding of retired members groups at local level and a new right for retired members to be represented at each of the Conferences of the National Self-Organised Groups .In addition members of the Retired Members delegation spoke on a number of matters and our contributions were well received.

Thanks

I would like to record my thanks go to members of the National Committee, including Geoff Davis, Joyce Mead and Rob Beeston, for their support and their contributions during the last year.

The National Committee would like to thank all members of staff who work on retired membership issues and retired member activists in branches and regions for their contributions during the year to pursue the interests of retired members.

REPORT OF NATIONAL RETIRED MEMBERS’ COMMITTEE

During the last year representation on the NRMC has been as follows: David Kippest (West Midlands, Chairperson), Ettie Amos (Northern), Sheila Crosby (Yorkshire & Humberside), Bob Dutton (Cymru/Wales), Patrick Hamilton (substitute – East Midlands), Dorothy Hutton (Northern Ireland), Rosemary Jackson (Scotland), Rosie MacGregor (South West),Elizabeth Payne-Ahmadi (substitute – South West), Eddie Peek (Greater London), Sue Salzedo (East Midlands), Mary Throp (North West), Pat Turner (South East) and John Walker (Eastern). The NEC were represented by Kim Silver (Deputy Chairperson), Mary Locke and Stephen Kennedy.

In addition to the two NRMC delegates (David Kippest and Rosemary Jackson), all 12 regions were represented at National Delegate Conference held this year in Brighton as follows: Nigel Albertini (Eastern), Moz Greenshields (East Midlands), Raymond Gnanapragasam (Greater London), Eileen Thompson (Northern), Brendan Beattie (Northern Ireland), Alan Hodgkinson (North West), Sue Chalmers (Scotland), Janet Cullup (South East), Elizabeth Payne-Ahmadi (South West), Michael Portway (Cymru/Wales), Ann Kippest (West Midlands) and Rosemary Pickard (Yorkshire & Humberside).

The involvement of these delegates sends a clear message to the rest of the Union, that retired members are a part of UNISON. Retired members again participated in a number of debates, including speaking in support of issues of concern to their working colleagues.

A significant success at National Delegate Conference was the carrying of a number of rule amendments relating to the definition of retired members as follows:

11.Rule D Retired Members’ Organisation

Rule D 6.2

Delete existing Rule D 6.2 and replace with:

“The retired members in a Branch may form a retired members’ section within the Branch and elect annually a retired members’ secretary and such other retired members’ officers as may be determined by them and also elect representatives to other levels of the retired members’ organisation.”

12.Rule D Retired Members’ Organisation

Rule D 6.3

Insert new Rule D 6.3:

“D 6.3 Such Retired Members’ Sections may formulate motions and proposals to the Branch Committee and the Regional Retired Members’ Committee.”

13.Rule D Retired Members’ Organisation

Insert new Rule D 6.4:

“D 6.4 Such Retired Members’ Sections shall have adequate and agreed funding for retired member activity and access to other resources subject to union guidelines.”

14.Rule D Retired Members’ Organisation

Rule D 6.6 add at end:

“The National Retired Members’ Organisation may send two representatives of relevant retired members to each national Self-Organised Group Conference with the right to speak but not to vote”.

Retired membership continued to grow, increasing during the year (August 2013 to August 2014) from 164,715 to 167,897.

The monitoring and fair representation forms from the 2013 UNISON Retired Members’ Conference provided the following information:

  • There were 73 new delegates an increase from 62 the previous year.
  • 53% of delegates were women, an increase from 51% the previous year.
  • 86% identified as white, the same as the previous year.
  • 19% identified as disabled (21% the previous year).
  • A total of 28% identified as belonging to a self-organised group, an increase from 24% the previous year.
  • Representation of the various self-organised groups was as follows:

Black members 12%

Disabled members 16%

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender 7%

Women 65%

  • Delegates belonged to service groups as follows:

Local government 56% (54% previous year)

Health 26% (24% previous year)

Higher Education 6% (same as previous year)

Energy 2% (same as previous year)

Police & Justice 5% (4% previous year)

Water 2% (1% previous year)

Community 3% (1% previous year).

  • Occupational groups were represented as follows:

Managers 15% (14% previous year)

Technical 7% (same as previous year)

Professional 27% (26%previous year)

Personal & caring services 8% (9% previous year)

Administration 20% (same as previous year)

Clerical & secretarial 12% (same as previous year)

Other non-manual 1% (2% previous year)

Other manual 7% (6% previous year)

Other occupations 3% (6% previous year).

UNISON conducted a successful recruitment drive in May under the strap-line 2Mke May Matter” and many retired members assisted branches and regions in their activities. Recruitment continues to be vital to the survival of our union and is an area in which retired members should be involved. The National Retired Members’ Committee urges retired members to ask their branches and regions how they can get involved in such initiatives.

UNISON members in Local government in England, Wales and Northern Ireland voted for action after rejecting the employers' pay offer of just 1%. The first strike day took place on 10 July and as on previous days of action retired member supported their UNISON colleagues on the picket lines. A second strike will happen onTuesday 14 October.

Colleagues in health were balloted in September over industrial action and may be taking some form of action in October. Check the UNISON website for information.

October will also see the TUC’s mass demonstration in London, making the case that “Britain Needs a Pay Rise”. It will take place on Saturday 18 October 2014, and will begin with a march through central London, culminating in a rally in Hyde Park.

The TUC’s message is as follows:

“People are currently facing the biggest squeeze on their incomes since Victorian times, and wages have fallen in real terms every year since 2010. We believe that as growth returns to the UK economy, everyone should get a fairer share in the recovery.

The time has come for Britain to get a pay rise.”

You can find out more at

During the last year the Retired Members’ Organisation continued to work successfully with the National Pensioners’ Convention (NPC) who have proved to be effective campaigning partners.

Following on from the Fair Care Campaign, UNISON and the NPC are working on a GPF bid to fund a project based on protecting public services for older people.

During the year UNISON worked jointly with the NPC on the following:

  • Campaign to defend universal benefits.
  • Scrap the Cap on Social care.
  • Lobby of Parliament on 27 November against the new single-tier pension.
  • National Dignity Day on 1 February 2014.

As in previous year’s many UNISON retired members attended the NPC Pensioners’ Parliament which comprised sessions covering the following:

  • The future of pensions and benefits.
  • Where Next for the NHS.
  • The Campaign against Loneliness.
  • The Future of Concessionary and Public Transport.
  • The Challenge posed by Dementia.
  • Dignity in Care.
  • Parliamentary Campaigning.
  • Opposing the Assertion that Society Cannot Afford an Ageing Population.

An “informal” meeting of UNISON retired members at the Parliament was organised to discuss the agenda. UNISON delegates were contacted in advance of the Parliament with details of the meeting. There was also a member of UNISON staff in attendance despite the event clashing with UNISON National Delegate Conference.

UNISON information was distributed to delegates outlining details of the UNISON Budget – Investing in the future: jobs, public services and growth.

The Chairperson of the NRMC represented UNISON on the TUC Pensioners’ Committee. Other organisations to which UNISON is linked are AGE UK, Action on Elder Abuse and Union Confederale Des Retraites, the retired members’ section of the French union CGT.

ACTION TAKEN ON MOTIONS CARRIED AT THE 2013 UNISON NATIONAL RETIRED MEMBERS’ CONFERENCE

COMPOSITE APROPOSED FLAT RATE STATE PENSION.

The introduction of a state pension of at least £178 for all pensioners continues to be UNISON policy and will be contained in the UNISON Charter for Older People.

MOTION 6.REMOVAL OF GENDER DISCRIMINATION IN PENSION PROVISION

This motion was submitted to 2014 National Delegate Conference but unfortunately was not reached. The motion has been referred to the NEC for implementation. The National Retired Members’ Committee will report on any progress made. The National Retired Members’ Committee will continue to raise this issue at every appropriate opportunity.

MOTION 7.25 PENCE ADDITION PAYMENT FOR OVER 80s

Protecting Universal benefits is a priority identified by Retired Members’ Conference but the National Retired Members’ Committee will pursue the issue of the additional payment for over 80s as requested by the motion.

MOTION 8.PENSION CREDIT

The National Retired Members’ Committee continues to believe that the answer to pensioner poverty is a basic state pension not lower than the official poverty line figure. In the meantime the National Retired Members’ Committee will undertake to promote pick-up of Pensions credit as outlined in the motion.

COMPOSITE B DEFENDING UNIVERSAL BENEFITS

This motion was submitted to 2014 National Delegate Conference but unfortunately was not reached. The motion has been referred to the NEC for implementation. The National Retired Members’ Committee will report on any progress made. The National Retired Members’ Committee will continue to raise this issue at every appropriate opportunity.

MOTION 11.WINTERFUEL ALLOWANCE

The priority for the National Retired Members’ Committee currently is to protect all universal benefits including the winter fuel allowance.

COMPOSITE C.SOCIAL CARE FUNDING

The motion is in line with current policy with regard to the establishment of a National Care Service.

The Labour party’s proposals for social care are contained in the report “One Person, One Team, one System” which is the outcome of the party's commission on "whole person care" led by GP Sir John Oldham. Championing integrated health and social care, it is strongly focused on making the system fit round the needs of individuals.

The report calls for a "national conversation" looking at health and social care together, with results enshrined in legislation for implementation from 2020. This conversation would look at health and social care funding and this is an opportunity for the National Retired Members’ Committee in conjunction with the Local Government and health Service Groups to develop thinking around free, at the point of need, social care, as well as "how and where care should be carried out".

The National Retired Members’ Committee on behalf of the Retired Members’ Organisation continues to voice its opposition to the £75,000 cap on care fees.

The sentiments of the motion will be included in the UNISON Charter for Older People.

MOTION 15. CARERS ALLOWANCE

The Carer’s Allowance rate for 2014/15 is £61.35 a week and the amount a carer can earn and still be entitled to Carer’s Allowance will be £102 a week from May 2014. Whilst supporting the principles contained in the motion, it has not been possible to pursue the aims of the motion at this time.

MOTION 16.ETHICAL CARE

The National Retired Members’ Committee are working with the Ethical Care campaign collect stories from retired members who either receive homecare or know people who receive homecare and to encourage them to lobby their councils to adopt the Charter. Information collected would be based on the following questions: